Written Answers Nos. 320-339
320. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the initial current and capital budget allocation for each hospital in the RCSI hospital group in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the final outturn for each hospital in each year; and the estimate for same in 2019. [46133/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
321. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of scarlet fever that have presented in 2018 and to date in 2019, by age categories and by each CHO area. [46137/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
322. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for access to a service (details supplied); the number of children on the waiting list; his plans to address waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46138/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
323. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; if his Department or the HSE keep a register of persons with the condition; if so, the age, location and number of persons with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46139/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
324. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to compile a register of persons with Ehler-Danlos syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46140/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
325. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the care pathway for persons with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46141/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
326. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to specific general practitioner training or support for the diagnosis and treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46142/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
327. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the consultants employed by the HSE specifically for the treatment and diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46143/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
328. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if myalgic encephalomyelitis, ME, will be recognised as an illness in view of the fact that thousands of persons here have the illness but are not acknowledged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46174/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) (ME) is a complex debilitating disorder which is characterised by severe fatigue accompanied by a range of other symptoms.
There is currently no known, specific, medical diagnostic test to determine or confirm a correct diagnosis of ME and no specific treatment which works for all sufferers is currently available. As a result clinical assessment and the design of care plans need to be tailored to the individual patient. There are assessments and tests which can be carried out in primary care settings by a General Practitioner. Specialised tests may be required when considering and ruling out other diagnoses. Relevant specialists are usually accessed through out patient clinics at secondary care level. The General Practitioner is regarded as best placed to refer patients, if appropriate.
Work is under way as part of the implementation of the Strategy for the Design of Integrated Outpatient Services 2016-2020, specifically as regards addressing how and where the patient is treated and the classification of referrals with corresponding clinically recommended time-frames. Consideration is also being given to condition specific referral forms. This work should see significant improvements with respect to access to appropriate services.
329. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients admitted to University Hospital Waterford's adult mental health service in each day from 1 January to 31 October 2019, in tabular form; if separate tables will be provided for the acute Bandon ward and the sub-acute Comeragh ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46175/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
330. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of days from 1 January to 31 October 2019 that the number of patients admitted to the acute Bandon ward and the sub-acute Comeragh ward of University Hospital Waterford was in excess of the bed capacity of each of the wards in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46176/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
331. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff allocated to University Hospital Waterford adult mental health service in each of the years 2000 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by job title in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46177/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
332. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of times in each of the years 2000 to 2018 and to date in 2019 that the adult mental health service at University Hospital Waterford was non-compliant with regulations for categories (details supplied) in tabular form. [46178/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
333. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a differential in cancer survival rates between the public and private health systems. [46183/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA programme to centralise publicly-funded cancer services (particularly surgical services) to eight high-volume, specialist centres was initiated in 2007, in line with the 2006 National Cancer Strategy. This decision was based on evidence that the development of high volume hospitals leads to better outcomes for patients.
A National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) report of January 2019 confirms that the programme of centralisation of cancer services resulted in a substantial shift of cancer treatment to the eight designated cancer centres. This has contributed to on-going improvements in cancer survival.
The report also highlighting differences in the average 5-year survival rate under the following categories: designated cancer centres, non-designated public hospitals and private hospitals, as set out in Table 1.
The NCRI report emphasises the following points in discussing the survival rate data:
- Average differences in survival between categories does not necessarily apply to all individual hospitals within a category;
- Most private and non-designated public hospitals treat small numbers of cancer patients annually; and
- Further work is needed to collate comparable data on co-morbidities and on the general health of patients across hospital categories.
Table 1: Average 5-Year Survival Rate Data
|
Cancer |
Designated Cancer Centre |
Other Public Hospital |
Private Hospital |
|
Oesophagus |
28% |
16% |
19% |
|
Stomach |
32% |
24% |
22% |
|
Rectal |
63% |
52% |
65% |
|
Pancreatic |
10% |
6% |
11% |
|
Lung |
23% |
5% |
23% |
|
Breast |
85% |
81% |
93% |
|
Prostate |
91% |
88% |
95% |
|
Brain/CNS* (malignant) |
28% |
12% |
19% |
|
Brain/CNS* (benign/uncertain) |
96% |
84% |
93% |
*CNS = Central Nervous System.
The full text of the NCRI report is available at: www.ncri.ie/publications/statistical-reports/cancer-care-and-survival-relation-centralisation-irish-cancer.
334. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46185/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
335. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the grounds of a centre (details supplied) are for sale; his plans for the services provided therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46200/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the majority of services provided at the Bessborough Centre are child and family support services which come under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
From a Health Service Executive perspective there is a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Unit on the Bessborough campus with a thirty year lease which will require to be honoured by the owners of the site.
336. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the mitigating measures that University Hospital Waterford has put in place to ensure the hospital comes in on budget for 2019; the areas in which these savings are being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46202/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible
337. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received appointments and reports with an organisation in view of the fact this is delaying the person's application for an SNA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
338. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if a Supplementary Estimate of €335 million is still expected for the health service in 2019; and if there has been a revision of same [46221/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is engaging in ongoing dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the financial performance of the Health Service Executive year to date, including consideration of the implications for the projected outturn for the year.
The specific detail on the supplementary budget will not be finalised until closer to the year end. Detail on the supplementary budget will be available following approval by the Select Committee on Health. A Supplementary Estimate of €335m is still anticipated.
339. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if the provision of home help hours has been curtailed in some counties due to an embargo on the use of external agencies; if so, when the embargo came into place; when it will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46222/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
